big-league

big-league

Describing or indicative of the highest level of something. That's a tough injury to come back from—I wonder if he'll ever be a big-league pitcher again.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

big league

An area of tough competition and high rewards; the largest or foremost of its kind. For example, Winning an Oscar put this unknown actress in the big league. The term alludes to the major (big) leagues of American baseball. [Late 1800s] Also see big time, def. 2.
See also: big, league
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

big league

1. n. a situation where competition is keen and a high level of performance is expected. (Usually plural. Referred originally to major league sports.) You’re in the big leagues now—no more penny-ante stuff.
2. and big-league mod. professional; big time. (From baseball.) When I’m a big-league star, I’ll send you free tickets.
See also: big, league

big-league

verb
See big league
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • a straw will show which way the wind blows
  • halvsies
  • harbinger
  • harbinger of things to come
  • a harbinger of things to come
  • a portent of things to come
  • portent
  • say a lot about (something)
  • nonbinary
  • a sign of things to come
References in periodicals archive
Smith then sought out Carl Hubbell, one of the best pitchers in big-league history.
Spackman now knows someone with just about every major-league team, and prime seats await her whenever she visits big-league cities.
Former big-league closer Jason Isringhausen was able to return to baseball after three Tommy Johns, but he doesn't count his second--it was the result of his own carelessness following his second procedure.
Clemens struck out his first big-league hitter in 1984, his first year in the major leagues.
Tomalia, the developer of starburst dendrimers, has become the most vocal promoter of big-league chemistry.
The club Wednesday finally announced its list of players who will be in big-league camp on minor-league contracts, and it's a big list of 27 players, including veterans and prospects from the minor-league system.
Which is not to say that Daniel Nava is headed for Cooperstown, but he is doing a heck of Boggs impersonation to begin his big-league career.
Fiction fans would do well hunt down Out at the Old Ball count of big-league life, or Patricia Nell Warren's The Front Runner (1974; Wildcat, $21.95), the godfather of all homo-jock literature, about a gay track coach and the star runner who becomes his lover.
"Big Lee" Smith (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) has been a mainstay at the Cubs annual fan convention in January in recent years, and he spent his first eight of 18 seasons on the North Side, recording 180 of his 478 big-league saves with the Cubs.
In 243 big-league games, he has hit .287 with 13 home runs and 92 RBIs.
In 36 big-league games, he has made nine starts, going 6-5 with a 3.16 ERA.
La Stella led the major leagues in pinch hits (24) and pinch-hit batting average (.312), while his 11 RBI tied for the big-league high.
Buchholz's 2008 big-league season ended in Baltimore Aug.
"Obviously, we made some very high-profile moves in the first year and you're then in the position of having some young guys develop at the big-league level and having a need to be patient for players to develop at the minor-league level.
On April 16, just weeks after learning he didn't make the White Sox's big-league roster out of spring training, Cordell slammed into the center- field wall at BB & T Ballpark in Charlotte.